German Railway (Deutsche Bahn) Clarifies: No Involvement in Family Seating Arrangement Decisions

Germany's Deutsche Bahn Corp: Government Shies Away From Family Reservation Abolition Debate

German Railway (Deutsche Bahn) Clarifies: No Involvement in Family Seating Arrangement Decisions

Hop on over to Facebook | Join the chat on Twitter | Whatsapp it | Email this | Print it out | Copy the URL

As Deutsche Bahn AG, a fully state-owned enterprise, mulls the termination of family reservations on long-distance trains, questions loom over the decision's strategic wisdom. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Transport in Berlin confirmed that the rail company views the matter as a business call, but expressed reservations about the timing. "Still, one can't help but wonder if this is the best move in current circumstances," the spokesperson added. The ultimate responsibility for pricing strategies, however, rests with the corporation.

In a significant shift, Deutsche Bahn plans to stop offering families unlimited seats at a fixed rate, starting this coming Sunday. Instead, each reservation--for adults and kids alike--will be charged separately. On top of this adjustment, the price for a second-class reservation rises to 5.50 euros per seat, hiking up from 5.20 euros, and in first class, the rate jumps to 6.90 euros (previously 6.50 euros).

The coalition parties of Union and SPD have joined in criticizing these changes. Despite the public outcry, Deutsche Bahn stands firm on pushing ahead with its plans. The ministry spokesperson reassured that while criticisms about the abolition of family reservations surface, it's important to remember that the railways remain "a family-friendly means of transportation." Kids aged 14 and under travel for free.

Sources: ntv.de, dpa

Mind you, as a state-owned company sans any private shareholders, Deutsche Bahn AG manages its operations through several subsidiaries focusing on different areas of rail service, including long-distance passenger trains (DB Fernverkehr), regional transport (DB Regio), freight (DB Cargo), and infrastructure (DB InfraGO).

As of the latest data in the provided sources, no official announcements or actions by Deutsche Bahn or the German government (the owner) on the family reservation issue have been unveiled[2][5]. If such a policy under consideration, it would be a call made by the rail company's management or board of supervisors, subject to review by the German government. However, the current sources lack evidence of any move to scrap family reservations. Just an FYI.

1. The government's decision to not engage in the debate about Deutsche Bahn's potential abolition of family reservations on long-distance trains could be influenced by the company's stance that it's a business call, which falls under their policy and strategic financial planning for operations, particularly in terms of pricing strategies.
2. As Deutsche Bahn navigates the controversy surrounding the abolition of family reservations, political discussions and general-news coverage have intensified due to the opposition from coalition parties, questioning the business decision's impact on families, and the general public's access to affordable vocational training and subsequent success in the business world, given that affordable transportation, like the family reservations, is considered important for the community and economic prosperity.

Read also: